BR lawyer shoots himself

• By KIMBERLY VETTER
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jul 22, 2009 - Page: 12A

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Prominent Baton Rouge lawyer Gordon Pugh shot himself in the head Monday while sitting on the Mississippi River levee near LSU’s veterinary school, the parish Coroner’s Office said Tuesday.

Pugh, a partner at Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, was pronounced dead at 6:54 p.m. after being found on the levee near River Road and Skip Bertman Drive, said Don Moreau of the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner’s Office.

Pugh, 71, had been with Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson for 43 years, practicing business, banking, commercial and labor and employment discrimination law, according to the law firm’s Web site.

He was an LSU graduate, a member of several professional organizations and served on community boards, the Web site says.

“While managing a very successful law practice, Gordon never lost sight of his responsibility to our community,” said Scott N. Hensgens, managing partner at Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson.

“He was a role model like none other and I am proud to call him my friend.”

Walter Monsour, president and chief executive officer of the East Baton Rouge Parish Redevelopment Authority, said he met Pugh while attending law school and that after graduating, Pugh took Monsour under his wing and became one of his mentors.

“He was a big giver in every shape, way and form,” Monsour said. “We are unfortunately a lot less of a community without him.”

Murphy Foster, a partner at Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, described Pugh as one of the most distinguished and well-respected lawyers in Baton Rouge and “in many respects Gordon was Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson.”

Foster said Pugh hired him to work at the law firm in 1979, a year after he worked as a law clerk for the attorney.

“Gordon hired me, he trained me, he mentored me and, in many ways, he was like a father to me,” Foster said.

“I will miss him very, very much.”

Pugh also liked to build model trains and spend time with his family, said Lee Griffin, the former chairman of Louisiana National Bank, which is now Chase.